Tag - Wireless
Bang & Olufsen unveils Beoplay H5 wireless earphones
Bang and Olufsen has unveiled the first wireless earphones in the company's history, to go alongside its existing wireless headphone collection. The Beoplay H5 take the appearance of a cleanly-designed pair of in-ear earphones, with the two audio-producing sections connected by a braided cable and a compact remote section, minimizing the amount of extra bulk that typically accompanies wireless earphones to house batteries and radio components.
Bluetooth SIG announcing version 5: claims of 2x range, 4x speed
The next upgrade of Bluetooth is on the way, with a formal announcement from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) expected to take place next week. In an email, Bluetooth SIG executive director Mark Powell advises the name of the new wireless standard will be Bluetooth 5, with the official unveiling containing more details about what to expect from this latest version taking place at an event in London on June 16. Among the highlights are claims that BT5 will include a speed boost of up to four times the current rate under Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), and double the current range.
Hands On: Yi Home Wireless HD Camera
So you're heading out of town on vacation for a week or two, and you want to make sure no one is snooping around your house while you're gone. You don't want to plunk down the thousands of dollars to wire your home for a security system, and you're not sure if you want to spend hundreds on a do-it-yourself kit, either. We've examined a home security camera that is not only easy to use, but irresistibly cheap: The Yi Home Camera.
Recent Apple hires hint at wireless charging for 2017 iPhone
Apple has hired two former uBeam engineers in the past four months, and over a dozen engineers over the past two years, all of whom specialize in wireless charging. The hires align with a report from Bloomberg earlier this year that Apple was working towards an introduction of the technology for the 2017 iPhone. Currently, the only product that supports a form of wireless charging is the Apple Watch, which uses a standard method of inductive charging to keep the device powered up. The rumored technology that Apple is working on for a future iPhone would allow wireless charging from a distance.
Review: B&O BeoPlay H8 Wireless Headphones
A pair of headphones that costs $500 through the Apple Store isn't exactly something that most people would even consider. However, if you are a music lover who is searching for the perfect pair of headphones for when you are on the go, spending a chunk of coin on a high-end set of cans could be a much better solution that buying multiple pairs of headphones at lower price points, but never feeling truly satisfied with your listening experience. The B&O BeoPlay H8 Wireless On-Ear Headphones are certainly expensive, but thanks to their versatility, could they be the last pair of headphones that you will buy? Find out in our review.
Hands On: Montar Qi Car Mount
With the usual warnings that you can't use any phone car mounts at all in certain parts of the USA, the Montar Qi one is a good option where you're allowed to have it -- and when you're not using an iPhone. It does fit both the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, but its best features are not supported by Apple as yet. Well, we say "as yet" -- but we might as well say as never.
Hands On: Scosche SportsclipAir Bluetooth Earbuds
Whether you're a sporty, outdoorsy type or just the type of person who hates being tethered to their phone, Bluetooth headphones are great. You don't get tangled in them, you can make phone call with them, they're a person's best friend at the gym or on the bus. Today, we're checking out Scosche's little Bluetooth number, a set of earbuds called the SportsclipAir.
New global LTE network launches exclusively for Apple iPad SIM
A new network exclusively for users of the Apple SIM card included with recent 3G/LTE-capable iPads has launched. Canada-based Otono Networks has debuted the AlwaysOnline Wireless network, offering pay-as-you-go plans for LTE roaming in 45 countries. The new network, a partnership with Apple directly, will be featured on the company's web page devoted to the Apple SIM soon.
Briefly: new 'rose gold' Beats headphones, CalDigit USB-C docks
On Thursday, Apple updated two of its Beats line of headphones to offer a "rose gold" color option. The urBeats in-ear "earbud" headphones, as well as the on-ear Solo2 Wireless on-ear headphones, now match the faux-rose gold color scheme of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s, as well as the Apple Watch Sport and the genuine rose gold option of the Apple Watch Edition. Both new color options are available immediately.
Apple granted patent for mini cellphone tower technology
Apple has been granted a further patent on Femtocell technology which is typically used in network base stations that use low-power cellular connections and are designed to be operated in homes and smaller businesses. This new patent, number 9,191,839, has been issued regarding methods of configuring Femtocells and it follows an August patent regarding access to wireless signals using the technology.
Now AAPL Stock: 150.27 ( -0.07 )
Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE
